How to Make Wheel-Well Cutouts on a Longboard

Something that needs consideration with longboard style skateboards is wheel placement. Because the longboard is made for wide arc-turns and high speeds, it does not do to have wheels hitting the deck as you apply weight to the trucks entering a turn. Having the wheel hit the deck could mean crashes, injury or worse. Wheel-well cutouts allow the trucks (the longboard shocks) to engage without the wheels hitting the base of the deck. Cutting out wheel wells is a matter of measuring and sawing out the needed areas on the edge of the deck.

Things You'll Need

  • Measuring tool
  • Carpenter's pencil and stencil
  • Safety goggles
  • Jigsaw
  • Power sander
  • Cutting tool
  • Cutting board
  • New deck adhesive
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Instructions

    • 1

      Measure the semi-circle or oval shape needed at the truck/wheel connection. If you are in doubt of this placement, mount the trucks and wheels onto the deck in the normal position (front and back) and stand on the board and weight the right and left side. Check where the wheels hit the deck as you apply weight on either side.

    • 2

      Mark the wheel contact areas on the underside of the deck, and remove the trucks and wheels.

    • 3

      Cut out the semicircles or semiovals on the wheel-well cutout markings using a jigsaw. As a safety precaution, wear safety goggles.

    • 4

      Run the cut edges against a power sander to smooth out the wheel-well cutouts on the side of the deck.